In his Republic Day speech on Thursday at the Chhatrasal Stadium in the city of Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unequivocally supported the major pran pratishtha (consecration) ceremony that took place on January 22 at the recently built Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Following an homage to individuals who have contributed to the nation's progress over the past 75 years, including women, youth, industrialists, farmers, laborers, scientists, and independence fighters, Kejriwal swiftly turned his attention to the pran pratishtha ritual.
Having not received a definitive invitation to attend the consecration event, the chief minister of Delhi said that he and his family will be visiting Ayodhya later. In sharp contrast to his partners in the INDIA group, who have been more circumspect and critical in their replies, Kejriwal has made it obvious that he supports the pran pratishtha event. General secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury, declined an offer to attend the event, emphasizing that secularism requires the separation of church and state. Yechury called it a “state sponsored" event directly involving the Prime Minister, UP chief minister, and others holding constitutional posts, and argued that the pran pratishtha ceremony was a “straightforward politicisation of the religious belief of the people which is not in consonance with the Constitution".
On January 22, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal and chairman of the Trinamool Congress, decided not to attend the event in Ayodhya and instead led an interfaith protest from Hazra to Park Circus Maidan in Kolkata. "They (the BJP) talk about Lord Ram, but what about Devi Sita who was with Lord Ram throughout his exile?" Banerjee asked in response to a question she had later during her speech at the rally. They do not discuss Devi Sita because they despise women. Devi Durga is worshipped by me. Thus, it is unnecessary to give us religious lectures."
AAP arranged plays from Ram Lila and recitations of the Sunderkand chapter of the Ramayana in the lead-up to the consecration event in Ayodhya. On the 22nd, a number of ministers and party members performed havans, conducted processions, and set up free kitchens. Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the party, enthusiastically took part in everything.
